Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons^™

A Professional Problem Solver Caring For Others: A Blog Post, Erin Kloepping

Feminist & Queer Praxis

This blog post was written for the WSU Improving Our World Blog, which showcases the work WSU students do to improve our community and world.

Collaborative Poetic Processes: Methodological Reflections On Co-Writing With Participants, Susan M. Manning

The Qualitative Report

This article illustrates how the author engaged in a collaborative poetry-making process with two participants, Margaret and Mary, in this feminist qualitative research study exploring women’s experiences of displacement, as loss of sense of place, in Newfoundland, Canada. The author evaluates some of the key successes of this type of process, including credible representation of participants’ experiences and reciprocity in the research process, as well as some of the methodological and philosophical tensions surrounding co-writing with participants that emerged during the poetry process. This article will be of particular interest to researchers and students who are looking for ways to …

Got A Story To Share?, Lgbtq Services, Jennifer Iwerks

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Flyer announcing that LGBTQ Services collection of stories about student experiences at the University of Maine.

Exploring Kindergartners' Understandings Of Gender : Responding To Picture Book Read Alouds With A Focus On Fairy Tales, Karen Marie Maher

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This dissertation explores four of my kindergartners’ understandings of gender across one academic year with an in-depth study of responses to a series of picture book read alouds including Cinderella variants. Critical literacy offered opportunities for these young students to critique inequities within social practices (Au & Raphael, 2000; Vasquez, 2014, 2017); whereas, poststructuralist feminism framed the inquiries into the locations of deeply ingrained gender identities (Blackburn, 2005, 2006; Blaise, 2005a, 2005b, 2014; Villaverde, 2008). This critical analysis of literature provided a means for the kindergartners to uncover underlying messages of power and inequity by interrogating whose voices were heard …

Gay Thanksgiving Creates Safe Space For All Students, Olivia Shipsey

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

On Thursday, Nov. 16 [2017], the UMaine LGBTQ Services and Wilde Stein: Queer Straight Alliance hosted their annual Gay Thanksgiving Potluck in the North Pod of the Memorial Union. The event was held to build and strengthen community ties while providing space for students who might not feel comfortable at home to celebrate the holidays.

Pride Month Flag Raising, Wilde Stein: Queer Straight Alliance

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Photograph of the rainbow flag displayed on a flag pole located on the University of Maine Mall in front of Fogler Library. A flag-raising ceremony is held at the start of Pride Week activities and observances.

On Global Lgbtq+ Issues, Wilde Stein Queer Straight Alliance

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Screen capture of a Facebook event announcement for a panel discussion entitled, "On Global LGBTQ+ Issues: Multicultural Panel on Global LGBTQ Issues" hosted by the Wilde Stein Queer Straight Alliance on Thursday, October 19, 2017.

We've Changed Our Name!, The Feminist Collective

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

A flyer announcing the renaming of the University of Maine Student Women's Association as The Feminist Collective. The Student Women's Association has had a decades long history of making UMaine a more inclusive, more feminist place. From inhabiting the original Women's Resource center, to hosting Take Back the Night every year, to our most recent success in reviving the Women's Resource Center. We are proud that SWA has been a beacon of intersectional feminism here at UMaine for many many years. This year we will be continuing the tradition of learning and growing from our past and adapting to each …

Women's, Gender, And Sexuality Studies Graduation Celebration, Women's, Gender, And Sexuality Studies

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Invitation to the 2017 graduation celebration for students of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

An Announcement From Student Women's Association, Student Women's Association

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Photograph of a paper flyer taped to the inside of the glass door of the Office of Student Life. The flyer reads: May 4, 2017 An announcement from Student Women's Association The Student Women's Association is happy to formally announce that we have been allocated a space for the new Women's Resource Center in Room 227 of the Memorial Union. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with the University over funding possibilities and providing as many resources as we can in this transitional period. As we begin the process of moving into this space, we reflect on the community …

Beautiful Week 2017, Student Women's Association

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Poster promoting activities planned in observance of Beautiful Week 2017 organized by the Student Women's Association.

Wgs 201 Course Description, Nicolle Littrell, Women's, Gender, And Sexuality Studies

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

WGS 201 Wonder Woman: Sheroe, Amazon Princess, Feminist Icon In this course, we will delve into the politics and secret history of one of the most popular feminist icons and symbols of female power: Wonder Woman. A central theme of the course is the social construction of feminine power; the role of pop culture and the media in shaping this and how iconic representations of power translate off the page into the "real world." The rise and fall (and re-ascent) of Wonder Woman's cultural status becomes a fascinating lens to examine the Women's Rights/Lib Movements she was assigned to bridge. …

Student Women's Association Meeting Minutes, The Feminist Collective

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Typed minutes documenting meetings of the Student Women's Association between January 23, 2017 and January 29, 2018.

Student Women's Association Group Photos, Student Women's Association

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Members of the Student Women's Association posing in matching black t-shirts in front of a bulletin board in the Memorial Union at the University of Maine.

I Hope, Mai Trinh

SURGE

As I have gotten older, I have learned that no matter how hard I try, I am never going to be able to repay my mother for everything that she did for me. The blood, sweat, and tears she put into nurturing the sick and troublesome, five-year-old me, the rebellious and lazy fifteen-year-old me, and the clumsy, and sometimes lost me now, are insurmountable. I know she had more trouble raising me than she was supposed to. I know her first five years of being a mother did not include taking me to the park, sitting down on a park …

Vagina Monologues Auditions 2016, Student Women's Association

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Flyer announcing auditions for the 2016 performance of the Vagina Monologues.

What Is The White Band?, Wilde Stein: Queer Straight Alliance

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Promotional post from the Wilde Stein Facebook page promoting the wearing of a white wrist band to protest the resurgence of hate, violence, misogyny, sexism, racism, and bigotry following the 2016 Presidential Election.

Lifting A Weight Off My Shoulders, Alison Lauro

SURGE

It’s a familiar scene for anyone who’s entered the Jaeger Center. You walk past the entrance desk, past the rock wall, the blue mats with some students stretching; there, the cardio machines, some soccer players cycling on the bikes, some girls on the elliptical machines and scattered on the treadmills, a guy on the stairmaster, a teacher jogging. Finally, you reach the end, the huge space filled with free weights, barbells, a leg press machine, and some pull up bars. You pay attention less to the selection of weights then who occupies this space: men, lots of them. At any …

Your Masculinity Does Not Make You My Judge And Jury, Melissa J. Lauro

SURGE

For me, Springfest 2016 began with the purchasing of a pack of cigarettes. A bad decision, surely, but not surprising for a weekend that is usually filled with them.

Before walking over to a party with my friends that weekend, I tucked the cigarettes securely in the back pocket of my shorts. The scene that unfolded as I walked into my friend’s apartment was a typical one: a rush of people, dim lighting, and loud, pulsing music. I tried to walk through the crowd quickly, waving and shouting a quick “hey” to friends here and there as I passed by. …

Uncovering Inequalities: Addressing The (Re)Production Of Power Relations Within Financial Aid Processes Utilizing Institutional Ethnography, Victoria A. Hill

MAIS Projects and Theses

The purpose of this research project is to critically map the University of Washington’s institutional practices concerning financial aid and related administrative policies and procedures related to the FAFSA application. This research was conducted by using institutional ethnography as a method to analyze the difficulty of carrying out organizational duties under complex federal, state and institutional policies. It also considers how the process of carrying out these duties creates tensions for staff, and how the unintended consequences of power relations are produced and reproduced between the process of staff carrying out their duties and students receiving aid. Information obtained from …

Sexual Assault Awareness Writing Showcase, Lgbtq Services, Office Of Sexual Assault & Violence Prevention

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Poster promoting Sexual Assault Awareness Writing Showcase, co-sponsored by LGBTQ Services and the Office of Sexual Assault & Violence Prevention.

The Slut Walk, Student Women's Association

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Black, red and white poster promoting the "Slut Walk" sponsored by the Student Women's Association. Red lettering on a black background reads: "The Slut Walk. Friday, April 22nd @ 12 p.m. The Mall." White lettering on a black background reads: "Reclaim your right to wear what you like. Note: Clothing worn to this event is not considered consent." Sponsored by SWA.

A Targeted Existence, Melissa J. Lauro

SURGE

Over the summer, I visited a friend from Gettysburg who was having a party. The party was fun for the first half, and I was having a good time, so I decided to stay the night instead of walk in the dark to the bus. This is what parents and educators and older sisters and women everywhere had taught me: stay with people you know; clutch your keys in your hand; don’t walk alone. I was staying with my friend from school; I was safe. [excerpt]

Fearless Friday: Erin Meachem, Erin M. Meachem

SURGE

In this round of Fearless Friday, SURGE is honoring the work of Erin Meachem ‘16!

Erin is originally from Queensbury, New York and is currently in her senior year at Gettysburg, majoring in English and Spanish. She has been heavily involved with student senate, serving as the senator for the Class of 2016 over the last three years. Erin currently works as the Student Liaison for the Career Development Center, advertising career development events to people who participate in student senate. In addition, she worked as the Peer Learning Assistant for a First-Year Seminar last semester and helped First Years …

Q&A: Privilege And Allyship, Anonymous

SURGE

Question: I’ve always wondered about this: as a white, heterosexual male person who cares about the way minorities and marginalized populations are treated, what gives me the right to feel offended or call someone out on something they say that’s a definite gray area when I don’t belong to that group? I believe that as a privileged individual it is my responsibility to advocate as an ally but it would conversely be an exercise of my privilege if I were to be the one to decide what is and isn’t offensive to a whole group of people I don’t belong …

Fearless Friday: Jasmine Matos, Jasmine S. Matos

SURGE

This week Surge is honored to highlight Jasmine Matos for Fearless Friday!

Originally from the Bronx in NYC, Jasmine is here at Gettysburg majoring in Health Sciences and minoring in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She now finds herself in her last semester at Gettysburg College and is trying to make the most of it. She’s the Captain of B.O.M.B. Squad, a member of the Black Student Union (BSU), a member of the Latin American Student Association (LASA), and she works in the Admissions Office. [excerpt]

Student Women's Association Meeting Minutes, Student Women's Association

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Typed minutes documenting meetings of the Student Women's Association between January 25, 2016 and November 21, 2016.

Beautiful Week 2016, Student Women's Association

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Poster promoting activities planned in observance of Beautiful Week 2016 organized by the Student Women's Association.

2015-2016 Collaboration Excellence Award, Wilde Stein: Queer Straight Alliance

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

UMaine LGBTQ Services awarded Wilde Stein and UMaine Campus Activities Board - CAB the Collaboration Excellence Award for 2015-2016. Cameron Alexander and Amy Schmitt display the certificate in this image.

Umaine Women In Academia Makes Presence On Campus With Upcoming Presentation, Josh Fabel

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

This Monday, Dec. 7, the group University of Maine Women in Academia will be hosting a presentation highlighting “Gender and Intersectionality in Higher Education.”